Atlas of the Human Brain
- 5th Edition - September 1, 2026
- Latest edition
- Authors: Juergen K Mai, Milan Majtanik, George Paxinos
- Language: English
Atlas of the Human Brain, Fifth Edition presents the anatomy of the brain at macroscopic and microscopic levels, featuring different aspects of brain morphology and topogr… Read more
Atlas of the Human Brain, Fifth Edition presents the anatomy of the brain at macroscopic and microscopic levels, featuring different aspects of brain morphology and topography with the most detailed and accurate delineations of brain structure. This new edition also features new diffusion tensor images (DTI), selected fiber tracts derived from tractography and depicted as "stipplings". It also includes annotated MR- and DT-images of the human brainstem. Totally new in this edition is the cortex map of von Economo and Koskinas in addition to the inclusion of Nissl plates with delineating of cortical areas (Brodmann’s areas) in serial histological sections.This is an essential guide to those working with human brain imaging or attempting to relate their observations on experimental animals to humans.
- Examines the brain in the skull and the brain in stereotaxic (MNI) space
- Includes high-resolution sections on the left sided 99 plates presenting myelin (Weigert) stained sections (covering myeloarchitecture) and fifty (Nissl) sections (covering cytoarchitecture), with new images and features
- Features schematic drawings (stipplings) of fiber pathways generated from tractography and DTIs opposite to the cell-stained section
- Contains sulci/gyri and Brodmann maps and the cortex map of von Economo and Koskinas
- Provides diagrams in the horizontal (axial) and sagittal planes that are calculated from the 3D model of the atlas brain
- Presents the brainstem. MRI, and drawings of nuclei and tracts on approximately 64 section levels, unlike the 4th edition
Standard neuroanatomy lab atlas for all labs doing neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, or molecular expression/cloning/neurogenetics in the mouse brain
1. Overview
2. Background Information
2.1 Previous Editions
2.2 The Two Components of This Atlas (What Is New in the 5th Edition?)
2.2.1 Three Atlases of the Brain in the Head
2.2.2 Atlas of the Human Brain in Stereotaxic (MNI) Space (AHB)
2.3 How to Use This Atlas (Layout of the Book)
2.4 Reproduction of Figures by Users of the Atlas
2.5 Acknowledgements and Dedication
3. Three Atlases of the Brain in the Head
3.1 Materials and Methods
3.1.1 Anatomical Preparations
3.1.2 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
3.1.3 Preparation and Photography of the Anatomical Slices
3.1.4 Preparation of 100 µm Thick Frozen Histological Brain Sections
3.1.5 Presentation of the Images for the Three Atlases
3.2 Axial (Horizontal) Atlas
3.3 Coronal Atlas
3.4 Sagittal Atlas
4. Myelo-, Cytoarchitectonic, and Connectomic Atlas of the Brain in Stereotaxic (MNI) Space
4.1 Materials and Methods
4.1.1 The Brain
4.1.2 Methods
4.1.3 Earlier Histological, Morphometric, and Immunohistochemical Studies
4.1.4 Nomenclature
4.1.5 Photographic Plates and Corresponding Diagrams
4.1.6 Three-Dimensional Reconstructions
4.1.7 Standardization
4.1.8 Mapping of the Atlas Space to the MNI/ICBM2009b Template
4.1.9 Use of the Atlas for the Interpretation of Individual In Vivo Brains
4.1.10 Mapping of the Cortical Areas
4.1.11 Layout of the Myelo- and Cytoarchitectonic Stereotaxic Atlas in MNI Space
4.2 Coronal Sections and Diagrams
4.2.1 Surface Views
4.2.2 Surface Maps
4.2.3 Plates, Figures, and Diagrams
4.3 Axial (Horizontal) Diagrams
4.4 Sagittal Diagrams
4.5 Brainstem
4.6 Published Studies Referring to the Brain Represented in the Atlas of the Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates
4.6.1 Histological, Morphometric, and Histochemical Studies
2. Background Information
2.1 Previous Editions
2.2 The Two Components of This Atlas (What Is New in the 5th Edition?)
2.2.1 Three Atlases of the Brain in the Head
2.2.2 Atlas of the Human Brain in Stereotaxic (MNI) Space (AHB)
2.3 How to Use This Atlas (Layout of the Book)
2.4 Reproduction of Figures by Users of the Atlas
2.5 Acknowledgements and Dedication
3. Three Atlases of the Brain in the Head
3.1 Materials and Methods
3.1.1 Anatomical Preparations
3.1.2 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
3.1.3 Preparation and Photography of the Anatomical Slices
3.1.4 Preparation of 100 µm Thick Frozen Histological Brain Sections
3.1.5 Presentation of the Images for the Three Atlases
3.2 Axial (Horizontal) Atlas
3.3 Coronal Atlas
3.4 Sagittal Atlas
4. Myelo-, Cytoarchitectonic, and Connectomic Atlas of the Brain in Stereotaxic (MNI) Space
4.1 Materials and Methods
4.1.1 The Brain
4.1.2 Methods
4.1.3 Earlier Histological, Morphometric, and Immunohistochemical Studies
4.1.4 Nomenclature
4.1.5 Photographic Plates and Corresponding Diagrams
4.1.6 Three-Dimensional Reconstructions
4.1.7 Standardization
4.1.8 Mapping of the Atlas Space to the MNI/ICBM2009b Template
4.1.9 Use of the Atlas for the Interpretation of Individual In Vivo Brains
4.1.10 Mapping of the Cortical Areas
4.1.11 Layout of the Myelo- and Cytoarchitectonic Stereotaxic Atlas in MNI Space
4.2 Coronal Sections and Diagrams
4.2.1 Surface Views
4.2.2 Surface Maps
4.2.3 Plates, Figures, and Diagrams
4.3 Axial (Horizontal) Diagrams
4.4 Sagittal Diagrams
4.5 Brainstem
4.6 Published Studies Referring to the Brain Represented in the Atlas of the Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates
4.6.1 Histological, Morphometric, and Histochemical Studies
Review of the previous edition:
"Moreover, the anatomic annotations are innumerable, easily overcoming limitations of other atlases that often gloss over the very details that one is looking for. In this respect, it is one of the most comprehensive documentations in a single volume that is available. This book is a definitive anatomic reference, with few words other than methodologic descriptions, instead focusing on delivering comprehensive anatomic detail."—World Neurosurgery
"Moreover, the anatomic annotations are innumerable, easily overcoming limitations of other atlases that often gloss over the very details that one is looking for. In this respect, it is one of the most comprehensive documentations in a single volume that is available. This book is a definitive anatomic reference, with few words other than methodologic descriptions, instead focusing on delivering comprehensive anatomic detail."—World Neurosurgery
- Edition: 5
- Latest edition
- Published: September 1, 2026
- Language: English
JK
Juergen K Mai
Professor Mai studied medicine in Freiburg, Germany, Vienna and UT Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, U.S.A. Student and Medical practices in Freiburg (Clinic for Neurosurgery), Berlin and Düsseldorf. Dissertation ("summa cum laude") and habilitation were awarded by the University of Düsseldorf: After a period as GP in private practice (Titisee-Neustadt) he became scientific assistant and senior assistant at the C. and O. Vogt-Institute for Brain Research, University of Düsseldorf (1972 - 1983) and Professor of Neuroanatomy at the Institute of Neuroanatomy, H.-Heine-University of Düsseldorf. He served as director of the Department of the Institute of Anatomy 1 until retirement in 2011. His main research interests are (i) the structural and molecular anatomy of the mammalian brain and (ii) expression patterns and regulation of terminal carbohydrates in development, cell activation and disease (III) operation planning in stereotactic neurosurgery. He works on a "Digital Brain Atlas for Planning and Interindividual Registration of Targets in Deep Brain Stimulation" and on a "Spatial Information Management Resource for the Human Brain". J. K. Mai has edited the catalogue of human brain sections from the Vogt collection; he is author and editor of several books, e.g. the awarded "Atlas of the Human Brain" (Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego), "The Human Nervous System" (Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego, Amsterdam, 3rd ed. 2012), Human Brain in Standard MNI Space: A Comprehensive Pocket Atlas (Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego, 2017; with M. Majtanik), Funktionelle Anatomie für Zahnmediziner (Quintessenz, Berlin, 2nd. ed. 2008; Sensi Divini (ital., engl., ger, russ. eds). J. K. Mai is founder and CEO of MR-X-Brain GmbH.
Affiliations and expertise
Clinic for Neurosurgery, Düsseldorf, GermanyMM
Milan Majtanik
Milan Majtanik received his diploma in neuropsychology and training in neuroinformatics from the University of Bochum. He completed his diploma in mathematics and his PhD in psychology at the University of Düsseldorf. In his research at the Research Center Jülich he combined advanced analysis techniques in magnetoencephalography (synchronization tomography) with computational modelling in order to measure the impact of desynchronizing sensory stimulation on brain functions. His work on neural plasticity and desynchronizing neural stimulation provided framework for the developent of novel therapeutic techniques. He is currently focusing on the development of novel algorithms for high precision mapping and analysis of individual MRI scans.
Affiliations and expertise
MR-X-Brain GmbH, Düsseldorf, GermanyGP
George Paxinos
George Paxinos has written 62 books on the brain of humans, monkeys, rodents and birds. His first atlas, The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, is the most cited neuroscience publication. His Atlas of the Human Brain received The Award for Excellence in Publishing in Medical Science (Assoc American Publishers, 1997) and The British Medical Association Illustrated Book Award (2016). His eco-fiction book A River Divided (georgepaxinos.com.au) considers the question of whether the brain in the Goldilocks Zone - the right “size” for survival.
Affiliations and expertise
NHMRC Senior Principal, NeuRA, Australia